Legal Definitions - designer defense

Designer defense is a type of defense used by a defendant in a legal case. It is a novel defense that is tailored to the defendant and the circumstances of the crime. The phrase "designer defense" comes from the fact that the defense is designed specifically for the defendant.

Examples of designer defense include:

• The Twinkie defense: This defense was used in a murder trial where the defendant claimed that he was not responsible for his actions because he had eaten too many Twinkies, which caused him to have a sugar rush and become mentally unstable.
• Unconsciousness or sleepwalking defense: This defense is used when a defendant claims that they were not aware of their actions because they were sleepwalking or in a state of unconsciousness.
• Postpartum psychosis defense: This defense is used when a defendant claims that they were not responsible for their actions because they were suffering from postpartum psychosis, a mental illness that can occur after childbirth.

These examples illustrate how designer defense is a unique defense that is tailored to the specific circumstances of the case. It is not a commonly used defense and is often controversial.